The Lion Sleeps Tonight

[gunbladescar]

I am exhausted. I've spent the past two days, scouting this entire place out. Zell was right. I couldn't get the crystal to work at all, but it was worth trying. I do have a new idea, but I can't do it by myself. And it definitely requires more planning

Comments

[spirited_hero]

[gunbladescar]

I'm vaguely aware of the annoyance in Zell's voice. It seems like more than usual. I don't know what he's so upset about. I've been standing on this pathway.

"Cottages don't work," I say as he approached. I'm feeling a little deflated that my sleeping plans have been nixed.

[spirited_hero]

[gunbladescar]

I don't turn around when I hear him hesitate. I just continue staring at the cottage. I do glance over at him as he assesses the cottage. I thought it was mechanical not magic. Next thing I'll be hearing is that X-Potions don't work either. Or Phoenix Down. That's not magic at all. Curaga is magic. GFs aren't magic, but they do use it. Come to think of it, I haven't heard from Shiva since I got here. I mutter her attack "Diamond Dust," but once again, nothing happens.

I look over at Zell and he seems very irate about something. I wasn't paying attention to the last thing he said so I think for a moment trying to recall his words. He's pissed off at me. That's what it was. That explains that look.

"Why are you mad?" I ask with curiosity. Maybe it has to do with his first question about where have I been, but maybe he's mad that I wasted a cottage. He always did keep our inventory organized.

[spirited_hero]

[gunbladescar]

What is it with this island and people having attitudes? I just don't get it. Well whatever it is I did, I'd better figure it out and apologize for it. Was he mad because I'd left to search the island like he had? I was a little focused in my mission and I might have forgotten to mention it to him. I never used to run my every moment by him though so I don't understand why he's so upset about it.

"... Are you mad because I've been gone scouting this place out?" I ask, hoping I've drawn the correct conclusion.

[spirited_hero]

[gunbladescar]

Had he told me that? It completely slipped my mind what my disappearing without saying anything to him must have meant to him. And I should have taken him with me anyway. What good would it have done if I did find a way home, but didn't take my friend, Zell, with me? I wonder if that means deep down, I didn't think I'd be able to leave.

"I'm sorry, Zell," I say. This time I don't try to hide the tiredness in my voice. "I was so focused on getting home that I didn't stop to think about my plans." I had stopped to think, but I hadn't thought them through that well. I needed my friends to make sure my plans were air tight. I needed Rinoa to come up with something off the wall. I needed some kid with a disgusting feather of a good luck charm to believe in me. I needed some sleep to be honest.

"It would have pointless if I'd found a way home and didn't take you with me. Rinoa, Quistis and Selphie would have killed me." I give him a half smile. Or what I can muster of one through my delirium.

[spirited_hero]

[gunbladescar]

My second in command is back. And he was right, it was totally irresponsible of me.

"I'm tired," I say, underestimating my fatigue. I rub the back of my head and stretch a little. "I'm not sure when was the last time I got a full night's sleep."

I rub my eyes and shrug. "So you wrote up a mission report?"

[spirited_hero]

[gunbladescar]

I nod. I'm interested in reading this mission report. It brings back memories--ones that I haven't forgotten of our first mission together as SeeDs.

I'm feeling a little stretched thin. Some people get giddy when they are tired. I've seen it. Zell probably is like that. I'm positive Selphie is. And then there's people like me. It just makes us even more introverted and quiet. And maybe a little rash.

[spirited_hero]

[gunbladescar]

"There wasn't time in Dissidia," I explain. "We were in a race to get our crystals and then we were fought Chaos."

"And I can't get any sleep in the Crash Room. I guess I'm used to my private room at Garden," I confess. It also brings back memories of the orphanage.

[spirited_hero]

[gunbladescar]

"Yeah. He was the God of Discord." I didn't manage it all by myself, but I find myself not talking about it.

"I know you would have gone," I say, going back to his point. In the end, after all, it was our belief in each other that defeated Ultimecia.

"I don't know. Maybe Cosmos could only summon a handful of people. There were only ten of us fighting. Quistis was there passing out equipment, but ..." I don't know what happened to her. She didn't fight. She didn't go search for a crystal and after we'd defeated Chaos, I hadn't seen her.